After losing two wickets in the first over, the West Indies hunted down India’s 249 for 5 with nine balls to spare in Ranchi, leveling the five-match series at 1-1.
The West Indies beat India by six wickets in the second T20I on Friday, October 9, chasing down a target of 250 at the JSCA International Stadium Complex in Ranchi, India, with captain Shai Hope carrying his bat for an unbeaten 102.
The West Indies reached 252 for 4 in 18.3 overs, finishing with nine balls to spare. The win levels the five-match series at 1-1, three days after India cruised to an eight-wicket victory in the opener in Lucknow.
How the West Indies beat India from 5 for 2
The chase could hardly have started worse. Fast bowler Mayank Yadav struck twice in the opening over, removing Kamil Pooran for 4 and bowling Shimron Hetmyer first ball. The West Indies were 5 for 2 after four deliveries.
Hope and Rovman Powell steadied things with a 53-run stand off 27 balls before Mayank bowled Powell for 24 at the start of the sixth over. That brought Sherfane Rutherford to the crease, and the match turned.
Hope and Rutherford added 120 runs off just 54 balls for the fourth wicket. Rutherford struck 84 off 37 deliveries, with seven fours and seven sixes, before he was caught by Sanju Samson off Kuldeep Yadav in the 15th over. It was another big hand from the left-hander, who also starred when Hetmyer and Rutherford fired the West Indies to a win over New Zealand in July.
Romario Shepherd then joined his captain and finished the job, hitting 34 not out off 13 balls in an unbroken 74-run stand that took just 26 deliveries.
Shai Hope’s unbeaten 102
Hope faced 45 balls for his 102 not out, hitting nine sixes and six fours at a strike rate above 226. He batted through the entire chase, from the first over to the winning runs, as West Indies cleared the ropes 20 times in their innings. The captain also anchored the chase when Carty and Hope steered the West Indies to a seven-wicket win over New Zealand at Providence in July.
Mayank Yadav was India’s most successful bowler with 3 for 36 in three overs. The rest of the attack was punished: Axar Patel went for 63 in 3.3 overs and Kuldeep Yadav for 53 in four.
India’s 249 for 5 was not enough
Hope won the toss and chose to bowl. India, captained by Shreyas Iyer, made 249 for 5 in their 20 overs, led by Samson’s 82 off 41 balls, which included nine fours and four sixes.
Ishan Kishan added 43 off 22, Tilak Varma finished unbeaten on 44 off 18, and Iyer, who scored an unbeaten century in the first match, made 40 off 18.
Off-spinner Roston Chase was the standout West Indies bowler on a high-scoring night, taking 3 for 24 in four overs. Shamar Springer took 2 for 64.
What’s next in the West Indies vs India T20I series
The third T20I is set for Sunday, October 11, at the Holkar Stadium in Indore, starting at 7:00 p.m. India time (9:30 a.m. Eastern). The series continues in Hyderabad on October 14 and concludes in Bengaluru. The full fixture list is on ESPN.
Scores: West Indies 252 for 4 in 18.3 overs (Shai Hope 102 not out, Sherfane Rutherford 84, Romario Shepherd 34 not out; Mayank Yadav 3 for 36) beat India 249 for 5 in 20 overs (Sanju Samson 82, Tilak Varma 44 not out, Ishan Kishan 43, Shreyas Iyer 40; Roston Chase 3 for 24, Shamar Springer 2 for 64) by six wickets.
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